The conflict in Ukraine continues on Monday, with several attacks between both sides taking place over the course of Sunday night. There have already been many casualties on both sides during Russia‘s military operation in Ukraine and, throughout the day, we’ll keep you updated with the latest developments from Kyiv and across the country in this Russia-Ukraine live blog.
23:40 GMT: NHL suspends all business relations in Russia
The National Hockey League (NHL) has suspended all business relations in Russia, effective immediately.
In a statement, the NHL said:
“The National Hockey League condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and urges a peaceful resolution as quickly as possible. Effective immediately, we are suspending our relationships with our business partners in Russia and we are pausing our Russian language social and digital media sites. In addition, we are discontinuing any consideration of Russia as a location for any future competitions involving the NHL.”
23:25 GMT: ‘I am Ukrainian and I am a fighter’ – Klitschko says
Wladimir Klitschko has reiterated that he wants to fight for Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, stating that “I am Ukrainian and I am a fighter.”
Last week, former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko enlisted in the Ukrainian army, and once the invasions began his brother Vitali – mayor of Kiev – confirmed he would also join.
In an interview with Sky Sports, he said: “Our strongest force is the will and the desire to live in a free country and we have chosen the direction where we want to go.
23:04 GMT: Russian forces moving closer to Kyiv is an ‘ominous sign’
According to Sky News, Russian troops have been attempting to move closer to the city.
“The movement of the Russian forces towards Kyiv, the fact they are moving forward, their forces are getting closer is an ominous sign,” Sky’s Deborah Haynes said.
22:50 GMT: Ukraine confirms Starlink equipment has arrived
Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation says equipment to use SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service has arrived in his country.
Mykhailo Fedorov thanked SpaceX founder Elon Musk for the equipment in a Twitter post Monday that was accompanied by a photo of boxes on the back of a truck.
Musk replied with his own tweet saying: “You are most welcome.”
22:35 GMT: African nations on UN Security Council condemn racism at Ukrainian border
During a UNSC meeting at the UN HQ in New York City Monday afternoon, representatives from the three African nations on the UN Security Council – Kenya, Ghana, and Gabon – all condemned discrimination against African citizens at the Ukrainian border.
“In the unfolding emergency, there have been disturbing reports about the racist treatment of Africans and people of African descent seeking to flee Ukraine to safety,” Kenyan Ambassador to the UN Martin Kimani said Monday. “The media is covering these appalling incidents and several states have confirmed that their citizens are suffering such treatment. We strongly condemn this racism and believe that it is damaging to the spirit of solidarity that is so urgently needed today.”
22:10 GMT: More than 50 rocket strikes carried out by Russia since invasion began,
Russia has conducted 56 rocket attacks against Ukraine since the invasion began five days ago, the Ukrainian president said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained that Russia has also sent 113 cruise missiles.
22:00 GMT: Meta restricts access to Russian state media
The parent company of Facebook and Instagram says it is restricting access to Russia’s RT and Sputnik in Europe over concerns the two state-controlled media outlets are being used to spread disinformation and propaganda.
Monday’s action by Menlo Park, Calif.-based Meta came after its announcement over the weekend that it was banning ads from Russian state media and had removed a network of 40 fake accounts, pages and groups that published pro-Russian talking points.
The network used fictitious persons posing as journalists and experts, but had yet to create much of an audience. Facebook began labelling Russian state-run media in 2020.
21:45 GMT: Biden and world leaders discuss Russia sanctions in call today
The White House said US President Joe Biden and world leaders “recognized the bravery of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression and discussed their continued support to Ukraine, including security, economic, and humanitarian assistance,” during a secure call Monday.
According to the White House, they joined Biden on the call:
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- European Council President Charles Michel
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
- Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi
- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
- Polish President Andrzej Duda
- Romanian President Klaus Iohannis
- UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson
21:28 GMT: US asked 12 Russian UN diplomats to leave the country
The United States has asked 12 Russian United Nations diplomats to leave the country due to their alleged engagement in “activities that were not in accordance with their responsibilities and obligations as diplomats,” Ambassador Richard Mills, Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations, said during a UN Security Council meeting Monday afternoon.
Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia responded by saying Mills’ explanation of the expulsions was “not satisfactory.”
21:00 GMT: International Criminal Court opens investigation into Russian invasion of Ukraine
The International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, will open an investigation into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “rapidly as possible,” ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan said in a statement Monday.
Khan said he confirmed that there is a reasonable basis to “believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine.”
20:42 GMT: Russia suffers delay in its timetable for invasion of Ukraine
A western official said there was a “failure on the first day to destroy Ukraine’s air defenses” by Russia and that it was “well behind the schedule it set,” for the invasion. Russia has about half the forces it massed on Ukraine’s borders “forward and operating in Ukraine.”
The official told CNN they were concerned with the “risks that come with a lack of Russian progress” especially the “use of rockets today and tube artillery – in Kyiv and Kharkiv – which risks being far more indiscriminate.”
20:21 GMT: Pentagon on Putin’s placement of Russian nuclear weapons: It’s “as unnecessary as it is chilling.”
After Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia’s deterrence forces – including its nuclear weapons – have been placed on high alert, the Pentagon said the announcement “as unnecessary as it is escalatory.”
The response was issued by Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby during a briefing on Monday.
20:07 GMT: Russia and Ukraine say first talks have ended
An embattled Ukraine moved to solidify its bond with the West on Monday by signing an application to join the European Union (EU), while the first round of Ukraine-Russia talks aimed at ending the fighting concluded with no immediate agreements.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky posted photos of himself signing the EU application, a largely symbolic move that could take years to become reality and is unlikely to sit well with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long accused the West of trying to pull Ukraine into its orbit.
Russian and Ukrainian officials held their meeting on Day Five of the war under the shadow of Putin’s nuclear threats, and with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine running into unexpectedly fierce resistance.
20:01 GMT: Norway to provide military equipment to Ukraine
Norway will provide $226 million in humanitarian assistance and military equipment to Ukraine.
The Norwegian government announced the support measures in a statement Monday, saying that this “extraordinary allocation to Ukraine is intended to enhance the efforts of humanitarian actors to help the most vulnerable groups, including children.”
19:45 GMT: UK Prime Minister urges world leaders to keep up the pressure on Putin
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged G7 and other world leaders to continue to provide Ukraine with defensive weapons and to keep up the pressure on Putin’s regime.
After a call with world leaders Monday, a Downing St. spokesperson said the leaders all agreed that Ukraine’s “valiant resistance” to Russian troops is “truly inspirational.”
The prime minister stressed the need to keep hitting Russia with trade restrictions and sanctions including SWIFT.
19:24 GMT: France moves embassy out of Ukrainian capital
France has decided to move its embassy out of the Ukrainian capital, but the French ambassador will remain in the country.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says the French Embassy was being transferred to the western city of Lviv fdue to the ongoing armed conflict.
19:05 GMT: More than 120,000 people flee Ukraine in last 24 hours
More than 120,000 people fled Ukraine’s western border in the past 24 hours, according to the Ukrainian border control service. In a tweet, the service reported that before the “aggravation of a humanitarian situation,” 50,000 people crossed the border each day since the conflict started.
Refugees arrive at the Medyka border crossing after fleeing from the Ukraine, in Poland, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022.
18:12 GMT: FIFA and UEFA ban Russian national teams and clubs
Russian national football teams and club teams have been suspended from competition until further notice announce FIFA and UEFA. Shortly after this joint announcement, UEFA said it has ended its partnership with the Russian state-owned energy company, Gazprom, across all competitions, effective immediately.
“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine,” the joint statement said on Monday. “Both (FIFA and UEFA) Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people,” said the joint statement.
17: 35 GMT: Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to take part in peace talks
Roman Abramovich, the Russian oligarch owner of the British soccer Chelsea F.C. says he will play an active role in efforts to broker peace in Ukraine. “I can confirm that Roman Abramovich was contacted by the Ukrainian side for support in achieving a peaceful resolution, and that he has been trying to help ever since,” said a representative of Abramovich.
17:31 GMT: Russian strike on Kyiv now
16:52 GMT: More explosions near Kyiv
Several large detonations were heard around 6:40 p.m. local time Monday to the east of the Kyiv’s city center as Russian and Ukrainian talks have ended in Belarus.
They were the largest explosions heard so far and they were followed by the sound sirens going off across the city.
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16:39: GMT Russia to be isolated from sports events due to Ukraine conflict
The International Olympic Committee urged sports bodies to exclude Russian athletes and officials from international events, including the FIFA World Cup. The committee called to “protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants.”
The decision opened the way for FIFA to exclude Russia from the World Cup ahead of qualifying playoff on March 24. FIFA was in talks with European soccer body UEFA on the details of suspending Russia’s national and club teams
The Olympic body’s call also applied to athletes and official from Belarus, which has abetted Russia’s invasion by allowing its territory to be used to station troops and launch military attacks.
16:30 GMT: European Space Agency: Unlikely to work with Russia
The European Space Agency had planned a joint mission with Russia to Mars this year is now “very unlikely” to happen due to sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine. The agency said in a statement that it was assessing the consequences of sanctions for its cooperation with Russia’s Roscosmos space agency.
The launch was already postponed from 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak and technical problems. The mission’s goal was to put a lander on Mars to determine if there was ever any life there.
16:20 GMT: United Nations to send food assistance to people fleeing Ukraine
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an emergency operation to provide food assistance to people within Ukraine and in neighboring countries receiving refugees.
“We are deeply concerned for the impact of hostilities on the lives and livelihoods of civilians,” Margot van der Velden, WFP’s Director of Emergencies, said in a statement. As food supplies are running low and grocery store shelves are almost empty in Kyiv, the organization is calling for $570 million USD in order to provide support to the victims of this conflict.
16:03 GMT: Bulgarian Defense Minister fired for not describing Ukraine invasion as war
Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov fired Defense Minister Stefan Yanev on Monday for his reluctance to describe the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a war.
“My defense minister cannot use the word operation instead of the word war. You cannot call it an operation when thousands of soldiers from the one and the other side are already killed,” Petkov said in a televised statement.
15:53 GMT: French president Macron holds separate calls with president Putin and president Zelenskyy
French President Emmanuel Macron held separate phone calls with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and afterwards with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday to help come to an agreement and end the conflict.
Putin “confirmed his willingness” to do so, Macron’s office said, but Ukraine said its second-largest city was coming under attack from heavy Russian shelling even as negotiations between the nations were underway at the border of Belarus.
The three mandataries have agreed to have further calls in the near future.
15:40 GMT: Switzerland joins Russia sanctions
Switzerland announced on Monday it will break its neutrality and emit sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine. The implemented sanctions would match those of the EU, of which Switzerland is not a member.
15:30 GMT: UN General Assembly meets to discuss Ukraine invasion
The United Nations General Assembly is meeting now as the Russian invasion of Ukraine is still ongoing. General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid of Maldive called once more for a ceasefire and urged the involved parties to come to a “meaningfully and rapidly de-escalate” situation.
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15:01 GMT: AT least 1 dead and 44 injured in Kharviv
Ukrainian authorities say the latest shelling of the city of Kharkiv has left one female civilian dead and at least 44 people have been wounded in fighting in Ukraine’s second-largest city and that seven of them died in hospitals.
Among the wounded there are 15 servicemen and 16 civilians, according to the city council in a news statement.
Ukrainian social networks featured videos showing residential quarters hit by a series of powerful explosions amid fighting with Russian forces. This in spite of Russian authorities denying targeting residential areas.
14:15 GMT: New curfew time
The new curfew in Kyiv will last from 20:00 until 07:00 local time. People will only be able to walk the streets to seek shelter in case of air raid sirens. In turn, to move around the city by car is only allowed with a special permit.
13:45 GMT: Stop war? Ukrainian bank receives aid for arms
The National Bank of Ukraine has received 33 million dollars in support for the armed forces. Previously, the bank had opened a special account where Ukrainians and foreigners can donate money to support the army.
13:00 GMT: Kosovo seeks to capitalise on Ukraine war
Kosovo have asked the United States to set up a permanent military base in the county and to speed up their integration into NATO. The request has been sparked by Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
Already, the United States has over 600 soldiers in Kosovo as part of a NATO ‘peacekeeping’ mission.
12:15 GMT: Spartak set to be eliminated from Europa League
UEFA are set to expel Spartak Moscow from the Europa League in response to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
This means that RB Leipzig, the team that knocked out Real Sociedad in the playoff tie, will advance directly to the quarter-finals, scheduled to be played on April 7 and 14.
11:30 GMT: 16 Ukrainian children have been killed
Ukraine’s president says 16 Ukrainian children have been killed and another 45 have been injured in the Russian invasion.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message Monday that “every crime, every shelling by the occupiers bring our partners and us even closer.”
10:45 GMT: Ruble plunges
The ruble plunged to a record low of less than 1 U.S. cent and most global stock markets declined Monday after Western nations moved to block some Russian banks from a global payments system.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused markets to swing wildly, given the vast potential economic impact, especially on inflation and energy supplies.
10:00 GMT: Ukrainian boxing legend joins the cause
Boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic champion and former world champion in three different weight groups, has joined the Belgorod-Dnistrovsky Territorial Defense Battalion in Ukraine to try to stop the Russian invasion. In a photo shared on his Facebook page, the boxer poses armed and in military clothing near Odessa.
09:40 GMT: Russia dominates Ukraine’s airspace
Russia has claimed today that it controls all of Ukraine’s airspace and that yesterday it shot down a Ukrainian Air Force fighter plane and destroyed four other aircraft on the ground.
“Russian aviation has conquered control of the airspace over the entire territory of Ukraine,” Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a press appearance. In addition to reporting the loss of five aircraft by Ukraine, Konashenkov said that Russian forces destroyed eight Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile launchers and several radars.
09:00 GMT: EU bans Russian media
In a controversial move that puts into question Europe’s view on freedom speech and media, the EU has banned Russian state-owned media on the continent. EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
“The state-owned Russia Today and Sputnik, and their subsidiaries, will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin’s war. We are developing tools to ban their toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe,” she wrote on Twitter.
08:00 GMT: Belarus votes to give up non-nuclear status
Belarus have voted to approve constitutional reforms that will allow the country to host nuclear weapons in a show of support for neighbours Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“If you [the West] transfer nuclear weapons to Poland or Lithuania, to our borders, then I will turn to Putin to return the nuclear weapons that I gave away without any conditions,” Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko said.
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